Hospitality sector ‘ready to revolt’ over regulations

A three-tier hospitality sector will continue to operate this month after Government delayed re-opening indoor dining and drinking – a move that has produced a backlash from the industry.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed the planned reopening of all indoor hospitality would be delayed after NPHET (National Public Health Emergency Team) urged caution over the potential spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.

It means hotels can continue to provide indoor and outdoor dining to guests; bars and restaurants with outdoor space can continue serve outdoors; but traditional pubs and restaurants without beer gardens or outdoor space must remain shuttered.

And now a new layer of discrimination under consideration and to be published on July 19 – vaccination ‘passports’ for indoor dining – is continuing to cause widespread disquiet.

It comes as the latest stats show one person with Covid-19 was in hospital in Galway on Tuesday. That patient was in Portiuncula; UHG was not treating anyone with Covid. Both ICUs were Covid-free.

Johnny Duggan, Chair of the Galway Branch of Vintners Federation of Ireland, said businesses were close to revolt over the delay to the July 5 re-opening.

“We’re just absolutely reeling and devastated for the trade. We can’t fathom the logic of it. Hotels and B&Bs are open inside, and now they’re deferring inside for bars and restaurants even though we’ve proven we can operate with social distancing, contact tracing and all our staff trained. It’s unbelievable. It is illogical,” Mr Duggan said.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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